The 2025 production season has officially begun for the Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ group.

General Manager Operations James Wallace said all four of the company’s four Burdekin factories had started production by lunchtime today, despite overnight showers impacting harvesting in some areas.

Invicta Mill at Giru was first off the mark at about 8am.

Inkerman Mill started crushing about 9.30am, Pioneer Mill about 10.45am and Kalamia Mill about 12.45pm.

Mr Wallace said it was great to see all of the Burdekin factories start up on 3 June as planned.

“It’s a true team effort to get to this point in the year, and have the factories and cane rail assets ready to go.

“We had a compressed maintenance season, which was made even more challenging by the big weather event in February.

“I want to give a shout-out to our maintenance and operations teams, and the support functions across our business, who have got us through a testing maintenance season and put us in a position to start the crush on time.

“Hopefully the weather stays on our side and we can make good headway into the crush.”

Mr Wallace said Wilmar’s Plane Creek Mill at Sarina was also scheduled to start production today, but widespread overnight rain made harvesting impossible.

“Unfortunately the Sarina region received 20-30mm overnight and paddocks were too wet for harvesting contractors to get in and cut cane.

“We expect them to be able to start cutting on Friday, with Plane Creek Mill starting production this Saturday.”

Wilmar’s Herbert mills will start the season next Tuesday (10 June) and Proserpine Mill will start a week later on 17 June.

With the crush now under way in the Burdekin, residents and visitors are reminded to switch on their train brains.

“Please stay alert around our cane rail network, obey all signs and signals and always give way to cane trains.”